Compare

The table below sets every body against every question. For two bodies at a time, a pair page puts each one's own sourced account beneath the answer — which is where the real distance shows.

Pairs worth reading together

Any two bodies can be compared, and there is a page for every combination. These are the ones that carry an argument: three where one body was formed by congregations leaving the other, and three where a shared tradition turns out to settle less than a reader would expect.

Any two bodies

First Second

All bodies at once

Question	Acts 29	ACNA	RC (institutes)	ELCA	GMC	Hillsong Church	PCUSA	PCA	RC (dioceses)	TEC	LCMS	Franciscans	Jesuits	SBC	UMC
Who owns the building?	The local congregation	Mixed — varies by congregation or state	A regional body	The local congregation	The local congregation	The national body	The congregation, held in trust for the denomination	The local congregation	A corporation sole (the bishop's office)	The congregation, held in trust for the denomination	The local congregation	Someone outside the body — by design	Mixed — varies by congregation or state	The local congregation	The congregation, held in trust for the denomination
How does a church get its pastor?	Called by the congregation	Both — call within a supervised process	Appointed	Not established	Appointed	Appointed	Both — call within a supervised process	Both — call within a supervised process	Appointed	Both — call within a supervised process	Called by the congregation	Appointed	Appointed	Called by the congregation	Appointed
Who is the pastor's employer?	The local congregation	The local congregation	The national body	Not established	Split — the congregation pays, but does not hire	The national body	The local congregation	The local congregation	Split — the congregation pays, but does not hire	The local congregation	The local congregation	The national body	The national body	The local congregation	Split — the congregation pays, but does not hire
What money leaves the congregation?	Contractual or licensed	Assessed by formula	All of it — nothing is held locally	Voluntary, no stated rate	Assessed by formula	All of it — nothing is held locally	Assessed by formula	Voluntary, no stated rate	Assessed by formula	Assessed by formula	Voluntary, no stated rate	All of it — nothing is held locally	All of it — nothing is held locally	Voluntary, at a stated percentage	Assessed by formula
Who oversees the congregation?	A board of directors	A bishop, elected for fixed terms	The institute's own superiors	A bishop, elected for fixed terms	A bishop, elected for fixed terms	A board of directors	A council of elders, not a person	A council of elders, not a person	A bishop, appointed from outside the local body	A bishop, holding office for life	Nothing above the congregation	The institute's own superiors	The institute's own superiors	Nothing above the congregation	A bishop, holding office for life
Who owns the church's name?	The denomination, licensed to the congregation	Not established	Not established	Not established	The denomination, licensed to the congregation	The denomination — the congregation is a unit of it	Not established	Not established	The denomination — the congregation is a unit of it	Not established	Not established	Not established	Not established	No one controls it	The denomination, licensed to the congregation
How does a congregation leave?	The congregation may simply vote to go	The congregation may simply vote to go	The governing documents provide no path	Through a defined process, with conditions	Through a defined process, with conditions	The governing documents provide no path	Disputed in practice	The congregation may simply vote to go	The governing documents provide no path	Disputed in practice	Not established	The governing documents provide no path	The governing documents provide no path	The congregation may simply vote to go	The governing documents provide no path
Coverage	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Built from primary governing documents	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Built from primary governing documents	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Partial — some structures are not publicly documented	Built from primary governing documents	Built from primary governing documents	Built from primary governing documents	Built from primary governing documents	Built from primary governing documents	Built from primary governing documents

Compare

Pairs worth reading together

The Presbyterian pair

The Methodist pair

The Anglican pair

The Lutheran pair

Two structures within one Church

Two religious orders

Any two bodies

All bodies at once